Caliban (moon) facts for kids
| Discovery | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Discovered by | Brett J. Gladman, Philip D. Nicholson, Joseph A. Burns, and John J. Kavelaars |
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| Discovered in | September 6, 1997 | ||||||
| Orbital characteristics | |||||||
| Semi-major axis | 7,231,000 km | ||||||
| orbital eccentricity | 0.1588 | ||||||
| Orbital period | 579.73 d | ||||||
| Inclination | 120.28° (to Uranus' equator) 140.878° (to the local Laplace plane) 139.89° (to the ecliptic) |
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| Is a moon of | Uranus | ||||||
| Physical characteristics | |||||||
| Mean diameter | ~72 km (estimate) | ||||||
| Surface area | ~16,000 km2 (estimate) | ||||||
| Volume | ~200,000 km3 (estimate) | ||||||
| Mass | ~7.4×1017 kg (estimate) | ||||||
| Mean density | ~1.5 g/cm3 (estimate) | ||||||
| Surface gravity | ~0.02 m/s2 (estimate) | ||||||
| Escape velocity | ~0.045 km/s (estimate) | ||||||
| Rotation period | 2.7h | ||||||
| Axial tilt | unknown | ||||||
| Albedo | 0.04 (assumed) | ||||||
| Surface temp. |
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| Atmosphere | none | ||||||
Caliban is the second biggest retrograde non-spherical moon of Uranus.
Caliban was found on 1997-09-06 by Brett J. Gladman, Philip D. Nicholson, Joseph A. Burns, and John J. Kavelaars using the 200-inch Hale telescope together with Sycorax and given the designation S/1997 U 1.
Designated Uranus XVI it was named after the monster fictional character in William Shakespeare's play The Tempest.
The orbital parameters suggest that it may belong, together with Stephano to the same dynamic cluster, suggesting common origin.
The diameter is estimated at 72 km (assuming albedo of 0.04), making it the second biggest non-spherical moon of Uranus, half the size of Sycorax, the biggest non-spherical moon of Uranus.
The light curve suggests Caliban's rotation period is 2.7 hours.
Related pages
- Ephemeris IAU-NSES
- Mean orbital parameters NASA JPL
Images for kids
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Animation of Caliban's orbit around Uranus. Uranus · Sycorax · Francisco · Caliban · Stephano · Trinculo
See also
In Spanish: Calibán (satélite) para niños
